What Happened Next? - 9 Planned Movie Sequels That Were Cancelled
7. E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears
Steven Spielberg's classic 1982 family movie clearly doesn't need a sequel, but that didn't stop the director - along with screenwriter Melissa Mathison - cooking up a story treatment for one anyway.
Ultimately, Spielberg decided not to make the movie because he felt like it would rob the original of its "virginity". All things considered, it's just as well that Nocturnal Fears was canned, because it sounds really bizarre and completely at odds with the warm, joyful tone of the first.
The nine-page story outline starts normally enough, with Elliot, Michael and Gertie breaking up for the summer, but it quickly takes a sinister turn involving a UFO:
"The aliens onboard are EVIL. They have landed on Earth in response to distress signals designating its present coordinates... the evil creatures are carnivorous... each one emits a hypnotic hum which has a paralyzing effect on the surrounding wildlife. These creatures are an albino fraction (mutation) of the same civilization E.T. belongs to. The two separate groups have been at war for decades!"
Other details revealed early in the story include Elliot's father filing for divorce, numerous cattle mutilations, and the albino aliens keeping "specimens" locked in cages on their ship. Wholesome family fun!
A while later, Elliot and friends are captured by the evil aliens and tortured for information on Zrek's (E.T.) whereabouts:
In the hours that follow, Elliott and his companions are questioned extensively. Gertie is crying and calling for Mary and E.T. for help... it is now time for Elliott to be questioned. The aliens show no mercy when he replies with the truth. The questioning process intensifies when they learn from his memory that he has dealt directly with Zrek. The pain is tremendous for Elliott and he breaks down and begins screaming for E.T.'s help.
Eventually, E.T. arrives and saves the day - banishing the evil ship to a "remote corner of the galaxy" - reunites with Elliot, and then... leaves. Again. Thank god this monstrosity was never put before cameras.